Stu Johnson, WEKU

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Lexington could be getting more blinking caution lights. David Filiatreau in Traffic Engineering told the Lexington City Council earlier this week that some stop lights could be switched out for blinking yellow lights.

Lexington Mayor Jim Gray asked for a moment of silence to open Tuesday's council work session. It was in memory of two-year-old Nova Marie Gallman, who died this week after being hit by gunfire intended for someone else. “It’s sad, and tragic, and heartbreaking, the loss of this two year old child,” Gray said. Council member Kevin Stinnett asked for committee consideration of issues related to youth gun violence. “When a crime is committed, right now there is no mandatory sentence. So people...

The future of performance-based funding for Kentucky's universities is now back in the h ands of the governor and state lawmakers. Members of Eastern Kentucky University's Board of Regents received an update Monday.

Eastern Kentucky University’s governing board is discussing budget cuts Monday, including the possible elimination or re-structuring of course offerings. There is only one item on the agenda: "Discussion and/or action on proposed budget cuts and academic program suspensions or modifications."

An investigation is underway into a biodiesel leak last month near Little Eagle Creek in Scott County creek that killed an estimated 2000 small fish. Officials said there’s no further significant threat to the creek. State and local environmental officials are searching for the source of the 3,000 gallons of biodiesel that made its way into the waterway. State Natural Resources Spokesman Lanny Brannock said the exact cause is not known although a nearby Love’s Travel Shop is being examine. ...

Lexington authorities are following up on a dozen or so cases of fake $100 bills or "prop" money. Police Sergeant Brad Williams said many of the bills recovered have the words "for motion picture use only' on them. “Most people when they’re given a bills they don’t read the words on it,” Williams said. “They basically just see the amount of it, maybe see the picture of who’s on it and that’s about it.”

Kentucky farmers are grappling with continuing challenges in the world agriculture economy. There’s no immediate relief in sight. A review of this year's Kentucky's agricultural production with an eye on 2017 is on the agenda at the state Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention. The convention is underway in Louisville through Saturday. Some 2,000 people are expected to attend. University of Kentucky Agricultural Economist Will Snell said soft demand tied to an ample supply of most...

Ten Kentucky candidates have filed to run for U.S. Senate including the incumbent and the mayor of the state’s second largest city. Lexington Mayor Jim Gray filed candidacy papers Tuesday morning, just hours ahead of the deadline. With family at his side and a room full of cameras and reporters, second term Gray signed his candidacy papers in the Secretary of State’s office. Gray made some prepared remarks after the filing in the capitol foyer. He began with comments about growing up in the...

Sights and sounds filled the state capitol rotunda Wednesday, all in the name of the arts across Kentucky. The event included a visit by a 'cool' puppeteer named Johnny. Several tables set up in the rotunda either featured musical instruments, crafts, or fiddlers playing music for spectators. Then, there was 'Hippy Johnny', decked out in a face covering headdress. Johnny, with long hair, beard, and sunglasses represented the Louisville based Squallis Puppeteer group. "The Arts Council had me...

Leaders of both houses of the Kentucky general assembly remain committed to passage of legislation to address heroin problems. House Speaker Greg Stumbo and Senate President Robert Stivers appeared Thursday on WEKU's Eastern Standard program. Both men are confident that a heroin bill will be passed this session. Efforts to pass heroin legislation last spring fell apart at the end of the session. Neither leader is saying when final approval might come during the current session. Stumbo says he...

Universities must comply with numerous laws, regulations and policies. Eastern Kentucky University President Michael Benson says there are federal reporting requirements for everything from financial aid, to accounting, to on-campus crime statistics.

The director of Kentucky Youth Advocates says the most important challenge facing the state's children is poverty. Terry Brooks is responding to a report just released by WalletHub, a personal finance social network. In it, Kentucky ranked 44th nationally in the percentage of children living in households with below poverty level income. Brooks says it is poverty which plays a key role in children's health, education, and safety. He says some states are looking to what's called "micro...